Rampage winning = new fans

Do you realize what happened in the aftermath of the Rampage’s thrilling 2-1 overtime win over the Houston Aeros Saturday night?

Hockey fans were born.

Worst case scenario last night. The Rampage lose in overtime or shootout.

The fans were into the game. Game ops did their best to keep the fans’ heads into the game. Goaltender Dov Grumet-Morris has some new fans for his sometimes spectacular efforts in goal.

But a win sealed the deal.

After Houston scored to tie the game 1-1, in the third period on a 5-on-3 power play on a deflected shot off Nolan Yonkman’s skate (the fourth time that’s happened on DGM this season at the AT&T Center), the crowd was more than ready to explode.

When Greg Rallo zipped the puck into the net just 50 seconds into overtime, the building went nuts! As did Rallo.

Greg had the widest smile as he jumped for joy against the glass and was joined by boisterous teammates in a Rampage group hug. Fans carried the glow out of the building into the parking lot and in conversations going home.

Perhaps, they will return soon for more fun.

But, if the game ended on a sour note, fans would have quietly filed out, perhaps thinking, “wow, sure glad we got that one goal.” And there could have been discussions about the disjointed power play when the Rampage could muster only a soft shot on goal during an extended two-man advantage in the third period. Or how the team completely forgot where the offensive zone was located, since o-zone pressure was non-existent.

But instead, the big win brought smiles, music in the room and happiness all around.

Hockey is hockey, folks. But winning hockey is the bomb.

Fun night at the AT&T Center.

And there’s more to come today at 4:30 against the best team in the South Division, the Charlotte Checkers, who have lost to Houston and Texas on this Texas Three-Step. They won’t be in a great mood.

Rampage fans are hoping they’ll be in a real sour state of mind around 8:30 tonight.